This is the same Moses who had argued with the Lord, saying, I can't do it! I'm no orator. Why should Pharaoh listen to me?" Exodus 6:30 (NLT 1996)
In Exodus, chapter six (6:16-30), there is a genealogy of the clans of the Levites. In it, Aaron and Moses are listed. I like how the New Living Testament translates the end of this section: This is the same Moses who had argued with the Lord. How would you like that? To be known, listed in your genealogy, as the person who argued with God? The person who said to God, "I can't do it!"
There are so many other things that could have been said about Moses. The genealogy could have identified him as the same Moses who was found in the river by Pharaoh's daughter, or the same Moses who was raised as a prince of Egypt, the same Moses who murdered a man and fled into the desert, the same Moses who heard God speak to him in a burning bush, the same Moses who was the first to know God's name. But, instead, the writer (most think it was Moses himself) chose to list arguing with the Lord. It made me smile though, because I think most of us could be described this way.
This is not the traditional Jewish idea of arguing with God in the way that Abraham did when he interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah. In that case, Abraham used God's own good character - his justice - as an argument for mercy. No, what Moses was saying to God here was the equivalent of, "you're making a big mistake picking me for this job!" And can I ever relate to that argument! So many times, when God asks me to do something I feel like, "God, I'm no good at this. I've got nothing!"
But God doesn't see things the way I see things. Having "nothing" is exactly where God wants me to be. He delights to bring life and salvation out of the "nothings," to use the "nots" to accomplish his will.
[Abraham] is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. Romans 4:17
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
I love Charles Spurgeon's point of view on this:
"Lord, why shouldest thou go about doing little things? Thou art a great God, and here is a great sinner. Here is a fitness in me for the display of thy grace. The greatness of my sin makes me a platform for the greatness of thy mercy. Let the greatness of thy love be seen in me." -- Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Order and Argument in Prayer
Yes, Lord! Let me not argue with you, but rather present myself to you as one who has been brought from death to life, and my members to you as instruments for righteousness.1 Yes, I am a great sinner. But it doesn't matter to you that I'm a "not," that I've got nothing, because you are everything, you are Creator, Mighty God, and there is nothing that you cannot do. So, "make me a platform for the greatness of thy mercy." Fill me with your love, put your compassion for others in my heart, your prayers in my mouth. Give me the words to speak and the grace and strength to go on in faith. "Let the greatness of thy love be seen in me."
Photo and blog copyright Sheila Bair
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